Transcriptomic Identification of Developmental Genes in the Mayfly Hexagenia limbata

Mayflies are one of the earliest diverging clades of pterygotes, and exhibit a distinct nymphal body plan bearing abdominal appendages. While the developmental genes underlying this body plan may provide unique insights into insect evolution, they have not been extensively studied. Here, we report transcriptomic sequences for early (majority first instar, some second instar) nymphs of the burrowing mayfly Hexagenia limbata, and identify major developmental genes of interest. Identified gene transcripts and their putative functions resemble those reported in other non-holometabolous insects. Furthermore, identified developmental genes of interest are largely conserved with non-Drosophila insect homologs, suggesting changes in gene regulation rather than sequence as a central mechanism for mayfly body plan divergence. Mayflies occupy a key phylogenetic position within Insecta and are an emerging model in evo-devo research, making developmental sequence data invaluable for future studies.